Oven with infrared lamp



April 6, 1948. v, JENSEN 2,439,005

OVEN WITH INFRA-RED LAMP Filed Feb. 24, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

April 6, 1948! F. v. JENSEN OVEN WITH INFRA-RED LAMP Filed Feb. 24, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY M April 6, 1948. F. v. JENSEN OVEN WITH INFRA-RED LAMP Filed Feb. 24, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 6, 1948 OVEN WITH INFRARED LAMP Frants V. Jensen, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Jensen Specialties, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application February 24, 1944, Serial No. 523,659

18 Claims. 1

This invention relates to ovens and particu larly to that type thereof employing infra-red ray electric lamp bulbs for supplying the heat to the object to be heated, the principal object being the provision of apparatus of this type that is of simple and improved construction.

Objects of the invention include the provision of an oven of the type described permittin quick and ready change in the position and arrangement of the infra-red ray lamp bulbs thereof; the provision of apparatus of the type described including shielding means cooperating with the infra-red ray lamp bulbs to protect the wiring therebehind from the full eiiects of the heat delivered by the bulbs; the provision of apparatus of the type described in which the shielding means is readily adjustable to accommodate it to changes in the positioning and/or arrangement of the lamp bulbs; the provision of apparatus of the type described in which changes in the disposition and arrangement of the lamp bulbs and the cooperating shielding may be accomplished with little if any changes in the parts of the apparatus itself; the provision of apparatus of the type described in which the wiring for the lamp bulbs is shielded from direct contact with the infra-red rays from the lamp bulbs together with means for circulating a cooling medium over the Wiring and the lamp bulbs, thereby to increase the life of both; the provision of an oven or the like provided with means for removing fumes or the like from the oven and at the same time providing means for circulating cooling air over the lamp bulbs and the wiring therefor; and the provision of a novel supporting structure for an infra-red ray lamp bulb including shielding means therefor.

The above being among the objects of the present invention, the same consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a suitable embodiment of the present invention and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several dillerent views,

Fig. l is a partially broken, partially sectioned and fragmentary side elevational View of an oven or oven section constructed in accordance with the present invention, taken as on the line l! of Fig. 5;

Fig, 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the construction of the end members or blocks for 2 the supporting rods and the method of securing them to the framework of the oven;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary, partially broken, partially sectioned view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the supporting and shielding means for the infra-red lamp bulbs in greater detail;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, taken as on the line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of that portion of Fig. 5 within the dot and dash circle 6, to better illustrate the manner in which the shielding of the lamp supporting unit cooperates withadjacent shielding; and,

Fig, 7 is an enlarged fragmentary, perspective view, from the rear, illustratin particularly a lamp supporting unit in greater detail and more clearly bringing out the manner in which it is adjustably mounted on its supporting rods.

Infra-red ray lamp bulbs are employed for projecting heat rays for the purpose of increasing the temperature of objects. The reasons for thus heating objects may be manifold. For instance, it may be desired to heat objects for the purpose of cooking the same, as in bakeries. On the other hand, infra-red lamp bulbs may be employed for heating objects which require drying, either to extract moisture from the object or to dry a coating of paint or paint-like material which has been applied thereto. The present invention being particularly adaptable to drying ovens it is shown, by way of illustration, particularly in connection with ovens of the drying type, its application to other ovens thus being made apparent to those skilled in the art.

At the present time, as far as I am aware, drying ovens and particularly those employed for driving moisture out of an article or for drying a coat of paint or the like on an article comprises a housing within which a plurality of infrared ray lamp bulbs are mounted and arranged to direct the infra-red rays therefrom onto an object which is placed in or moved through the housing. In the past these ovens have beenso constructed and arranged that the lamp bulbs are mounted in a predetermined position and arrangement therein and in event it is desired to change the number or arrangement of the infra-red lamp bulbs therein, unless this can be accomplished by removing a portion of the infrared ray lamp bulbs, that is by reducing the number of the same by simply unscrewing them from 3 their sockets, it requires a substantial reconstruction of the entire oven or at least a reconstruction of the lamp bulb supporting means, wiring therefor, and the like to accomplish the desired result. As a result, in the past such ovens have been designed for a specific purpose and equipped with what has been assumed to be a sufficient number of lamp bulbs for the purpose required, and if objects of a different size, shape, or mass are desired to be treated in the oven and which cannot be accomplished by simply removing part of the lamp bulbs, a substantial reconstruction of the oven is required, involving a material and often unjustified expense.

In ovens of the type under consideration it is usually desirable to provide a circulation of air through the ovens in order to remove the moisture which has been driven from the object, or the solvents in the paint which have been applied to the objects, and to condition the surrounding air for more ready absorption of the same. While it is true that the flow of such air through the oven does have some effect in cooling the wiring for the various lamp bulbs particularly if the wiring is not enclosed in conduits as is often the case, nevertheless such wiring in the past has been exposed to a greater or lesser degree to the relatively high temperatures existing within the a ovens and which temperatures are necessarily deleterious to the life of the insulation on the wiring, requiring the wiring to be replaced from time to time.

In accordance with the present invention the infra-red ray lamp bulbs are so supported in the oven that their position and arrangement may be readily varied to meet difierent conditions, and the lamp bulb supports may be added to or subtracted from to accommodate such varying conditions. This is accomplished by mounting the supports for the lamp bulbs on supporting members which extend in one direction relative to the length of the oven and mounting such supporting members themselves for adjustment at right angles thereto. The supporting members for the lamp supports are such as to permit the ready application of additional lamp supports thereto or ready removal of one or more of the lamp supports therefrom, and the shifting of lamp supports thereon to any desired position, with the result that almost any number and arrangement of lamp bulbs may be provided in a quick and easy manner.

The lamp supports are so constructed and arranged as to support a shielding forming a substantially continuous wall within the ovens spaced from the outer walls thereof and through which the faces of the lamp bulbs project in order to direct the infra-red rays therefrom upon an object within the oven, this shielding serving to intercept the rays projected beyond the object so as to protect the wiring from direct reception of such rays. Additionally, the space provided between the shielding and the outer walls of the oven is preferably so connected with the air circulation system for the oven that the air entering the oven is caused to flow between the shielding and the outer walls of the oven, thereby to pro-.

vide a flow of relatively cool air over the wiring and thus further preventing the temperature of the same from increasing to an undesirable degree.

In accordance with one phase of the present invention the shielding referred to above is made up in relatively small sections and one section is secured to the support for each of the lamp 4 bulbs. This shielding on each lamp support is so constructed and arranged as to enable it to cooperate with that on an adjacent support or with independent sections adapted to fill the space between adjacent lamp bulbs, thereby to provide a complete lining for the oven. The various sections of such lining removably engage one another so as to enable ready engagement with one another to form the complete lining or shielding, and ready separation from one another as, of course, may be necessary when the adjacent lamp bulb support is required to be shifted in position to meet some new requirement of operation.

As a result of these features of the present invention a standard size and. design of oven may be manufactured and sold, and may be varied at will by the owner to meet a variety of difierent conditions that may be met with in service because of changes in size, shape, or mass of an object to be heated, or differences in the amount or intensity of heat to be applied to one object as compared to another.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 and 5, the structure there shown may constitute an entire oven, but particularly in those cases where the work to be heated is passed through the oven on a conveying system then, in such case, the oven will usually consist of a plurality of sections joined in end relationship and each section of which may be identical or substantially similar to that shown. It, therefore, may be assumed, for the purpose of illustration, that the construction shown in Fig. 1 is a section of a longer oven made up of a plurality of sections each of substantially the constructions shown.

As best brought out in Figs. 1 and 5, the oven section there shown comprises a framework, each end of which consists of laterally spaced, inwardly facing, vertically directed channels lil joined at their upper ends to upwardly and inwardly inclined channels I2, the upper ends of which are secured together by means of 'a cross-bar it which may be of any desired configuration. Angularly arranged channels it, arranged with the channels facing inwardly as in the case of channels Ill and I2, are preferably provided at the bottom portion of each end member as brought out in Fig. 5. Longitudinally extending angles 18 preferably located at the top and bottom ends of the channels l0 on each side of the framework connect the opposite ends of the framework and are rigidly secured thereto. Sheathing 20, preferably of sheet metal, is secured to the framework just described over the outer sides thereof and extends from the bottom angles 18 upwardly to the upper ends of the channels I2 over the full length of the structure.

It will be appreciated that the structure thus described may, if desired or required in a particular case, be employed with end walls serving to enclose the ends of the same to a greater or lesser degree, but that where two sections, as described, are joined in end relationship, the connected ends of the sections will ordinarily not require any end wall. The bottom of the structure thus described willordinarily be seated directly upon the floor which will, therefore, serve to close the bottom end of the same. The top of the oven just described may be allowed to remain either open or closed, as desired, but in any event either a stack or an' exhausting fan such as 22 will usually be connected with the top portion of the oven just described to remove the hot and usually vapor ladened gases therefrom, such stack or the fan 22, in accordance with a more limited phase of the present invention, preferably cooperating with the oven in a novel manner which will hereinafter be more fully described.

In order to support the infra-red ray lamp bulbs in the oven, the following mechanism is provided. Secured to the inwardly directed flanges of the channels l5 and I2 are a plurality of preferably metal blocks 24, there being the same number of blocks secured to the channels If! and I2 at both ends of the structure and on the same side of the same and located in corresponding positions on the channels Hi and I2. Between corresponding bl'ocks 24 at opposite ends of the oven and on the same side thereof are extended a pair of rods 26 arranged in spaced parallel relation with respect to each other, and the supports for the infra-red ray lamps are carried by cooperating pairs of such rods 26.

The blocks 24 are preferably carried by those flanges of the channels Ill and I2 closest to the center of the oven so that, if desired, one of the end frames I ll, 12, it, It may also serve as an end frame for an adjacent connected section, in which event the remaining flanges of the channels I6, I 2, and it may serve to support the corresponding blocks 25 of such adjoining section. The blocks 24 themselves, as best brought out in Fig. 3, are each provided with a groove 28 in one edge thereof of the size preferably to relatively closely, butin any event to slidably receive the marginal edge of a flange of a channel Iii, l2, or 16 therein. A screw, such as 30, is threaded through the side of the block and into the groove 28 and against the flange of the channel therein so that it may serve to clamp the block 24 to the flange of the channel and thus lock the block 24 in any desired position along such flange of the channel. Also, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, each block 24 is provided with a pair of spaced openings 32 therein in which the corresponding ends of the cooperating rods 2% are received, the rods 26 being locked in the openings by screws 34 threaded through the inner edges of the blocks and bearing thereon.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the blocks 2 are readily adjustable lengthwise of the flanges of the channels ill, I2, and I6 and may be locked in any position lengthwise thereof by means of the screws 30. Likewise, that additional blocks 24 may be mounted on the flanges of the channels, or one or more blocks 24 thereon may be readily removed therefrom. It will also be appreciated that rods 26 may be readily removed from supported relation between opposed pairs of blocks 24 at the opposite end of the oven in order to add to or subtract from the number of infrared lamp supports carried by such rods, or that, if desired, a pair of rods 26 and their corresponding blocks 24 may be readily removed from or applied as a unit to, the oven.

The construction of the supports which directly receive the infra-red lamp bulbs is perhaps best brought out in the perspective view in Fig. 7, from which it will be seen that each consists of a sheet metal plate All, the upper and lower marginal portions of which are bent to form a pair of parallel eyes 42 spaced from each other by a distance corresponding to the spacing of the rods 26 of a cooperating pair of such rods. The eyes 42 are of such diameter as to preferably relatively closely but slidably receive such pair of rods '26 therein so as to render the lamp support slidable longitudinally of the rods 26. The plate 40 is centrally apertured to receive a socket 44 for an infra-red. lamp bulb, and the socket is suitably and preferably rigidly secured thereto by suitable means such as screws 46, it being understood that the sockets 44 open towards the center of the oven so that the infra-red ray lamp bulb 50, which is screwed thereinto, faces towands the center of the oven.

It will be appreciated that the various sockets 44 are connected by electric wiring such as 52 to a suitable source of electric energy. It will also be appreciated that each of these lamp supports is readily shiftable longitudinally of the rods 26, that any desired number of lamp bulb supports may be mounted on each cooperating pair of rods 26 within the capacity of the same, and that, therefore, any desired disposition of infra-red ray lamp bulbs 50 and any number thereof within the capacity of the rods 26 may be provided for. This feature, in conjunction with the fact that the blocks 24 which support the rods 26 may be adjusted to any desired position along the flanges of the channels I0, l2, and f6, and additional blocks 24 and rods 26 may be applied to such flanges or such blocks and rods may be removed from such flanges, all in a relatively quick, easy manner, provides a construction whereby any number of infra-red ray lamp bulbs 50 within the capacity of the oven and any desired disposition of the same in the oven may be more or less quickly provided for and this by the use of relatively unskilled labor.

As previously mentioned, heretofore, as far as I I am aware, no attempt has heretofore been made to protect the wiring such as 52 for the various sockets such as 44 from direct reception of the infra-red rays from the various lamps such as to in this type oven, with the result that such wiring has become heated to an excessive temperature, resulting in break-down of the insulation of the same and requiring frequent replacement for that reason. In accordance with the present invention a shielding is provided for protecting the wiring 52 from direct reception of the infra-red rays from the lamps This shielding preferably takes the form of an inner lining for the oven, spaced from the outer walls thereof and preferably in substantial alignment with the faces of the lamp bulbs 50 which are exposed or project therethrough. It will be appreciated that if the variation in number and arrangement of lamp bulbs 50, in accordance with the present invention and as above described, is to be realized without the necessity of providing a new such lining or shielding each time a change is made in the number or disposition of the lamp bulbs, the lining or shielding itself must be equally adjustable. This is provided for in accordance with a further phase of the present invention by constructing such shielding in relatively small units which cooperate with one another to form a continuous lining or shielding and which admit of variation in arrangement to accommodate variation in arrangement and number of lamp bulbs.

Referring to Fig. 7, it will be noted that a U-shaped strap metal bracket E3, having outwardly turned free end portions 62, is rigidly secured at the bottom of the U to each of the eyes 42 of the plate 40, and extends inwardly of the oven therefrom. The legs of each strap member 60 are divergent and corresponding legs of the two strap members 69 secured to each member or plate 40 are also arranged in divergent relation, this feature being, of course, to

accommodate the larger end of the lamp bulbs 53 between the free ends of the strap members.

The outwardly turned ends 62 of the strap member 60 of each lamp bulb supporting unit are, as brought out in the various views, arranged in a common plane and to these is secured a sheet metal plate or member 64 by any suitable means such as welding, rivets, or by screws such as 66. The plates 64 of each lamp bulb supporting unit are all preferably of the same size and of square or rectangular shape as shown. The particular size of the plates 65 may vary to a greater or lesser extent, but preferably is no greater than that which would space adjacent lamp supporting units, when the plates 66 thereof are in engagement with each other, by a distance greater than the minimum distance which it may be possibly desired to use in any particular oven. The relative size of the plate 64 shown in the drawings has been found satisfactory for many installations.

Each plate member 64 is provided with 'a round opening or aperture 68 therein in axial alignment with the socket M, the opening 68 being of a size preferably slightly larger than the maximum diameter of the cooperating lamp bulb 50 so as to permit the maximum diameter of the lamp bulb 55 to be received therein preferably without an undue amount of clearance between the lamp bulb and the margins of the opening t8. It will also be observed that the legs of the straps at are of such length that the plates 64 are supported at such a distance from their corresponding brackets is that when the lamp bulbs 58 are screwed into their sockets, substantially only the face of the lamp bulbs 50 project inwardly of the oven beyond the plates 54. Such lamp bulbs 56, as indicated in the drawings, are usually of a maximum diameter immediately adjacent the face thereof and the bulbs 58, therefore, substantially close the openings 63 in practice.

As best set out in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, the upper and lower marginal edge portions of the plates 5 are rearwardly reversely bent as at iii to form an inwardly openin channel along each of such edges, the width of such channels preferably being such as to enable them to receive a strip of metal of substantially the same thickness as the plates 6 3 therein. As perhaps best brought out in Fig. '7, one marginal side edge of each plate 64 is rearwardly bent to form a flange 12 arranged in perpendicular relationship with respect to the plane of the plates E l. The opposite side marginal edge is first rearwardly and then reversely bent to form a forwardly opening channel 14.

From the above description, it will be appreciated that two or more lamp supports may be mounted upon a cooperating pair of rods 26 and arranged with the flange 12 along one side edge of one received in the channel l4 along the adjacent side edge of the other so that the sheet metal plate or shield 64 carried by each of these lamp supports is interlocked with the other thereby to form in effect a continuous shield over the areas of their members E i. This interlocking may be effected by springing the adjacent edges of the members or plates 8 5 to permit the flange i2 01" one to be engaged within the channel 14 of the other or, where the plates 65 are secured to the brackets 58 by screws such as 65, the screws may be loosened for the purpose of permitting such engagement to be effected.

Where two such lamp supports are supported one below the other, then the corresponding rods 26 may still be adjusted by moving the corresponding blocks 24 along the flanges of their cooperating channels [0, l2, or [6 so that their edges lie in close relationship as indicated in Fig. '7, in which case a metal strip having the opposite marginal edges thereof reversely bent on the same side thereof to provide opposed channels 82 may be slipped over and thereby interlocked with the oppositely facing channels l9 along the adjacent edges of the members 64 of such lamp support.

Thus, with the construction thus far described, it will be appreciated that the oven of the present invention may be so constructed and arranged that the lamp supporting units may be arranged both longitudinally and vertically of the oven with the plates 64 indirect interlocking engagement with each other longitudinally of the oven and interlocked with one another vertically by the strips 80 thereby to provide a complete shielding or lining for the oven over the extent of the areas occupied by the lamps 56. However, it will be appreciated that it will not he often that such close arrangement of the lamp bulbs 50 and their supports will be employed, although, as illustrated in the construction shown in the drawings, occasions may arise where the lamp supports illustrated in Fig. 7 may be arranged directly one below the other as brought out in Figs. 1 and 5, or a portion of the lam supports along a single cooperating pair of rods 26 may be arranged with their plates 64 in direct interlocked relationship as indicated in Fig. 1. However, where the lamp supports are spaced either vertically or horizontally with respect to one another, a simple means is provided in accordance with the present invention for continuing the shielding or oven lining between the plates 64 thereof.

In order to carry out the last-mentioned effect, a plurality of plates such as 84 are provided for interfitting engagement between the plates 64 of the lamp supports mounted On each cooperating pair of rods 25. While these plates 84 may, of course, be made of any desirable width and they may, of course, be made in any width necessary to accommodate any unusual conditions, they are preferably made up in a relatively small number of standard sizes, the maximum of which is preferably no greater in width than the width of the plates 84. Usually it will be sufficient if 'one additional size of plates is made up of a width equal to half of the width of the plates 64. Such plates 84 will, of course, be of the same height as the plates 64 and their upper and lower edges are reversely bent to form inwardly directed hooks or channels 85 as best brought out in Fig, '7, these being so positioned as to be longitudinally aligned with the inwardly turned channel II! at the upper and lower edges of the plates 64. The side edges of the plates 64 are formed into exact conformance with the corresponding side edges of the plates 64, that is, the lefthand edges as viewed in Fig. 7 are each bent to form a forwardly opening channel 88 and their righthand edges are bent to form a rearwardly projecting flange 90, but in the latter case, in order to provide a better form of interlocking joint between the members 84 and the plates 64, the flanges 90 are preferably formed as one of the legs of a rearwardly opening channel 92. Thus, like plates 64, any number of plates 84 may be lnterengaged with each other along their adjacent side edges and may be interposed in any desirable number between adjacent lamp supports on the same pair of rods 25.

Plates 95 similar to the plates 84 are employed to connect th plates 64 of vertically adjacent p supports where these are separated by more than the distance illustrated in Fig. 7. In this case, however, it will be appreciated that the plates are preferably of the same width as the plates t l and/or the plates 84, and are preferably provided in sizes of varying vertical dimensions. Their upper and lower edges are preferably forwardly and reverscly bent to form channels 95, as illustrated in Fig. 7, of the same type and arrangement as the channels 82 of the strips 88. Their opposite side edges are formed in the same manner as the side edges of the plates 84, that is, with a rearwardly projecting flange, such as the flanges 95! of the plates 84, along one edge and which may include the associated rearwardly turned channels, such as the channels 92, while at the opposite edge they are provided with forwardly opening channels such as channels 88 of the plates 84. In the particular construction shown, and as best brought out in Fig. 5, in the case where an oven is of no greater vertical dimension than that shown, and two rows of lamps are arranged in adjacent relationship along the central portion thereof and one row of lamps is mounted between cooperating channels I2 and another row between cooperating channels I 6, then the plates 94 are required to be bent as indicated in joining the angularly disposed lamps to the horizontally disposed lamps. Even in such case the plates 94 may be of a standard height, and two or more standard heights of the plates 94 may be provided to permit a greater range of number and position of adjustment of the various lamps 50.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that by employing the particular type of construction heretofore described the lamps 59 may be adjusted to varying locations within the oven and that their number may be added to or subtracted from, by adjustment, addition or subtraction of the lamp supports and without any operation that could be termed a re-building of the oven as would be necessary in equivalent cases when employing conventional constructions, and that the shielding or lining for the oven is so constructed and arranged as to admit of such re-arrangement and changes in number of the lamps employed.

It has been heretofore mentioned that in accordance with a more limited phase of the present invention, the structure thus above described may be employed for effecting a further beneficial result, namely, that of employing the air circulated through the oven for removing vapors or the like driven from the objects heated for the purpose of cooling the wiring for the lamps and thus to enhance the effect of the shielding in this respect. In carrying out this phase of the invention the shielding as best brought out in Fig. 5 is terminated above the bottom of the oven and shielding plates equivalent to the plates 94, but modified in accordance with the needs of this phase of the invention as will be appreciated and indicated at $3412 in Fig. 5, are connected to the plates 66 of the uppermost row of lamps 5i) and are extended upwardly through the top wall of the oven where they are connected into a header lid, to which the intake of the exhausting fan 22, or a stack if employed in place thereof as previously suggested, is connected. 'The top wall of the oven between the plate Ma and the outside wall thereof is left open so as to provide for the entrance of air downwardly between the lining and the outer walls of the oven. It will be appreciated from this that when the fan 22 is actuated to exhaust air from within the interior of the oven, the air which replaces the air thus exhausted will flow downwardly from the top of the oven between the lining and exterior walls thereof over lamps 5i! and the wiring 52 therefor and will be discharged into the interior of the oven at the bottom end thereof between the bottom of the oven and the plates 64 for the bottom row of lamps and will then flow upwardly and be discharged from the oven by the fan 22. Even though the ends of the oven may be more or less open under such circumstances, nevertheless a material flow of air will occur as described to effect the results mentioned.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim by Letters Patent is:

1. In an infra-red ray oven, in combination, a housing, a plurality of supporting devices extending longitudinally of said housing and carried thereby, each of said supporting devices comprising a pair of spaced parallel rods and ad justable means connectin said rods to said housing in any one of a plurality of vertically shiftable positions, and a lamp support mounted upon the pair of rods of each of said devices for shiftable movement longitudinally thereof, an infra-red ray lamp carried by each lamp support, and plates carried by said lamp supports filling the space between the heads of said lamps forming together with said lamp heads a drying compartment within said oven.

2. In an infra-red ray oven, in combination, a housing, a pair of inwardly projecting spaced parallel flanges fixed with respect to said housing, a member adapted to be supported by each of said flanges and being shiftable lengthwise thereof, means comprising a pair of spaced parallel rods extending between and carried by said members, and a lamp support mounted on said rods for shiftable movement longitudinally thereof.

3. In an infra-red ray oven, in combination, a housing, a pair of inwardly projecting spaced parallel flanges fixed with respect to said housing, a member adapted to be supported by each of said flanges and being shiftable lengthwise thereof, means comprising a pair of spaced parallel rods extending between and carried by said members, and a lamp support mounted on said rods for shiftable movement longitudinally thereof comprising a plate, eyes on said plate slidably surrounding said rods, and a lamp socket fixed with respect to said plate.

4. An infra-red ray oven comprising, in combination, a framework comprising end members having flanges projecting inwardly of said oven, a sheathing applied to exterior faces of said framework, grooved blocks receiving said flanges in said groove thereof and shiftable longitudinally of said flanges, means cooperating between said blocks and said flanges operable to lock said blocks in shiftable position on said flanges, a pair of rods connecting said corresponding blocks at opposite ends of said framework and arranged in spaced and parallel relation with respect to each other, and a lamp support mounted on each cooperating pair of said rods for shiftable movement longitudinally thereof.

5. In an infra-red ray oven, in combination, a

" housing forming a drying compartment, a lining for said housing arranged in inwardly spaced relation with respect thereto and having a plurality of openings therein, infra-red ray lamp bulbs mounted in the space between said lining and the outer walls of said housing and arranged with the domed faces thereof disposed in said circular openings whereby to complete the said lining and direct rays therefrom into said drying compartment, wiring for said lamp bulbs in said space between the said lining and said housing, means for circulating air through said space between said lining and said housing, means for withdrawing air from the drying compartment, said space between said lining and said housing being in open communication with said drying compartment along at least one side of said space and being in open communication with the atmosphere along another side of said space.

, 6. In an infra-red ray oven, in combination, a housing forming a drying compartment, a lining for said housing arranged in inwardly spaced relation with respect to the outer walls of said housing and having a plurality of circular openings therein, a plurality of infra-red ray lamp bulbs mounted on supports disposed in the space betweensaid lining and said outer walls of said housing and arranged with the domed faces thereof disposed in said circular openings whereby to complete the said lining and direct rays therefrom into the said drying compartment, said lining comprising a pluralityof plate-like elements carried by said support and releasably engaging one another.

'7. In an infra-red ray oven, in combination,

a housing, a plurality of infra-red ray lamp bulbs including means for supporting the same in adjustablerelationship with respect to each other within said housing and arranged to direct the rays therefrom towards the center of said housing, wiring connecting said infra-red ray lamp bulbs, and shielding disposed around the face of said lamp bulbs for protecting said wiring against direct reception of the rays from said lamp bulbs comprising a plurality of plate-like members releasably connected with one another substantially in the planes of the faces of said lamp bulbs and substantially closing the space between adjacent lamp bulbs and forming a drying compartment.

8. In an infra-red ray oven, in combination, a housing, a plurality of infra-red ray lamp bulb supports including sockets thereon carried by said housing interiorly thereof, wiring for said infrared ray lamp bulb sockets, and shielding means for protecting said wiring from said infra-red rays comprising a plurality of plate-like members releasably connected to one another to form a lining for said oven in inwardly spaced relation with respect to the outer walls and the lamp supports, at least a portion of said plate-like members being carried by said lamp Su ports.

9. In an infra-red ray oven, in combination,

a housing, a plurality of supporting devices extending in one direction in said housing and arranged in spaced and parallel relation with respect to each other, a plurality of lamp bulb supports mounted on said supporting devices for shiftable movement longitudinally thereof and each adapted to support a lamp bulb, a plate member carried by each of said lamp bulb sup ports and apertured to receive the head of a lamp bulb therein, and additional plates releasably cooperating between the first-mentioned plates to eifect acontinuous shielding between the head of said lamp bulbs, the said plate and said lamp bulb forming a drying compartment spaced inwardly from said housing.

10. In an infra-red ray oven, in combination, a housing, a plurality of supporting devices extending in one direction in said housing and arranged in spaced and parallel relation with respect to each other, a plurality of lamp bulb sup ports mounted on said supporting devices for shiftable movement longitudinally thereof and each adapted to support a lamp bulb, aplate member carried by each of said supports and apertured to receive the head of a lamp bulb therein, additional plates of the same height as the first-mentioned plates releasably cooperating between the first-mentioned plates spaced horizontally from one another to effect a continuous shielding between them, and further plates of the same width as the first-mentioned plates cooperating between first-mentioned plates spaced vertically one on another to effect a continuous shielding between them, the said plates and said lamp bulb heads forming a drying compartment spaced inwardly from said housing.

11. In an infra-red oven, a unit comprising a base plate adapted to be supported in said oven having an aperture therethrough, an infra-red bulb socket supported by and extending through said base plate, a plurality of supports extending outwardly from the said base plate, and an apertured oven inner wall plate element fixed on the outer ends of the said outwardly extending supports in spaced relationship to the said base plate substantially parallel to the head of an infra-red bulb when operatively positioned in the said socket, the aperture through the said oven inner wall plate being disposed in axial alignment with the said socket and. of sufiicient size to accommodate the head of an infra-red bulb when operatively positioned in the said socket, the said oven wall plate element having two opposite marginal edges rearwardly reversedly bent forming inwardly open channels therealong and one of theremaining edges rearwardly bent forming a flange disposed in perpendicular relationship with respect to the plane of the said oven wall plate and the ot ier remaining edge rearwardly and reversedly bent forming a forwardly open channel therealong, and. means for connecting the inwardly open channel marginal edges of adjacent oven wall plates together with the other edges thereof in interlocked relationship whereby to provide together with the bulb head of infra-red bulbs positioned in said socket a substantially continuous oven inner wall.

12. In an infra-red oven, a unit comprising a base plate adapted to be supported in said oven having an aperture therethrough, an infra-red bulb socket supported by and extending through said base plate, a plurality of narrow supporting arms extending outwardly from the said base plate, and an apertured oven inner wall plate element fixed on the outer end of the said outwardly extending narrow supporting arms in spaced relationship to the said base plate substantially parallel to the head of an infra-red bulb when operatively positioned in the said socket, the aperture through the said oven inner wall plate being disposed in axial alignment with the said socket and of sufiicient size to accommodate the head of an infra-red bulb When operatively positioned in the said socket, the peripheral edges of the said oven inner wall plate being so constructed and arranged that together with other oven wall plates and bulb heads a substantially continuous oven inner wall is formed, the spac- 13 ing of the arms supporting the said oven inner wall plate being such as to admit of replacing infra-red bulbs from behind the said oven inner wall.

13. In an infra-red oven, a plurality of spaced supports, a plurality of units each comprising a base plate adapted to be supported in said oven havingan aperture therethrough, an infra-red bulb socket supported by and extending through said plate, a plurality of narrow supporting arms extending outwardly from the-said base plate, and an-apertured oven inner wall plate element fixed on the outer ends of the said outwardly extending supports in spaced relationship to the said base plate substantially parallel to the head of an infra-red bulb when operatively positioned in the said socket, the aperture through the said oven inner wall plate being disposed in axial alignment with the said socket and of sufficient size to accommodate the head of an infra-red bulb when operatively positioned in the said sock.- et, the peripheral edges of the said oven wall plate elements being formed to interlock with similar peripherally formed oven wall plates to provide together with the bulb head of an infrared bulb operatively positioned in the said socket a substantially continuous oven inner wall, and the spacing of the arms supporting the said oven inner wall plate being such as to admit of replacing infra-red bulbs from behind said oven inner Wall.

14. In an infra red ray oven, in combination, a housing, unit supporting means therein, a plurality of units supported by said supporting means within said housing each comprising a base plate having an aperture therethrough, an infra red bulb socket supported by and extending through said base plate, a plurality of supports extending outwardly from said base plate, and an apertured oven inner wall plate element fixed on the outer ends of the said outwardly extending supports in spaced relationship to the said base plate substantially parallel to the head of an infra red bulb when operatively positioned in the said socket, the aperture through the said oven inner wall plate being disposed in axial alignment with the said socket and of sufficient size to accommodate the head of an infra red bulb when operatively positioned in the said socket, the peripheral edges of the said oven inner wall plate being so constructed and arranged that together with other oven inner wall plates and bulb heads a substantially continuous oven inner wall is formed, the said substantially continuous oven inner wall forming a drying compartment within the said housing, means for withdrawing air from the said drying compartment, the space between the said substantially continuous oven inner wall and the said housing being in open communication with the said drying compartment along at least one side thereof and being in open communication with atmosphere along at least another side thereof,

15. In an infra-red ray oven, in combination, a housing, a pair of longitudinally disposed apertured partitions in the said housing forming a drying compartment and bulb spaces each side of the said drying compartment, the said housing having openings in the ends thereof communicating with the said drying compartment through which items to be dried may be conveyed, means for supporting infra-red bulbs in the space between the said partition and the said housing with the heads thereof closing the apertures in the said partitions thereby completing the surface thereof, the top of the said oven housing having air intakes over the said bulb spaces, and means for withdrawing air vfrom the top of the said drying compartment, the said longitudinal partitions having a communicating space at the bottom thereof between the said bulb spaces and the said drying compartment whereby to permit cold air to be drawn downwardly through the said bulb spaces, become heated by the said bulbs and pass upwardly through the said drying compartment thereby providing a combination of radiant and convection heat to items conveyed through the said oven.

16. In an infra-red ray oven, in combination, a housing, a plurality of infra-red ray lamp bulbs including means for supporting the same in adjustable relationship with respect to each other within the said housing and arranged to direct the rays therefrom toward the center of the said housing, wiring connecting the said infra-red ray lamp bulbs, and shielding disposed around the head of the said lamp bulbs for protecting the said wiring against the direct reception of rays from the said lamp bulbs comprising a plurality of plate-like members releasably connected with one another substantially in the planes of the heads of the said lamp bulbs substantially closing the space between adjacent lamp bulbs and forming partitions defining a drying compartment, the top of the said housing having air intakes over the bulb space between the said drying compartment and outer wall of the oven housing and an air outlet over the said drying compartment, the said partitions defining the said drying compartment having a space at the bottom thereof providing a communicating passage between the said bulb space and the said drying compartment whereby to provide a downward passage of air through the said bulb space and an upward passage of air through the said drying compartment thereby preventing overheating of the bulbs in the bulb space and providing direct radiant heat and convection heat simultaneously to items being dried within the said oven.

17. In an infra red oven, a unit comprising a base plate adapted to be supported in said oven having an aperture therethrou-gh, an infra red bulb socket supported by and extending through said base plate, a plurality of narrow supporting arms extending forwardly from the said base plate, and an apertured oven inner wall plate element fixed on the outer end of the said outwardly extending narrow supporting arms in spaced relationship to the said base plate substantially parallel to the head of an infra red bulb when operatively positioned in the said socket, the said base plate providing the principal support for the said inner wall plate element, the aperture through the said oven inner wall plate being disposed in axial alignment with the said socket and of suificient size to accommodate the head of an infra. red bulb when operatively positioned in the said socket; the said oven inner wall plates being so constructed and arranged that together with other oven wall plates and bulb heads a substantially continuous oven inner wall is formed.

18. In an infra red oven, a plurality of spaced supports, a plurality of units each comprising a base plate adapted to be supported in said oven having an aperture therethrough, an infra red bulb socket supported by and extending through said plate, a plurality of narrow supporting arms extending forwardly from the said base plate, and an apertured oven inner wall plate element fixed on the outer ends of the said outwardly extending supports in spaced relationship to the said base plate substantially parallel to the head of an infra red bulb when operatively positioned in the said socket, the said base plate providing the principal support for the said inner wall late element, the aperture through the said oven inner wall plate being disposed in axial alignment with the said socket and of sufficient size to accommodate the head of an infra red bulb when operatively positioned in the said socket, the peripheral edges of the said oven wall plate elements being formed to interlock with similar peripherally formed oven wall plates to provide together with the bulb head of an infra red bulb operatively positioned in the said socket a substantlally continuous oven inner Wall.

FRANTS V. JENSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATEms 

